‘A Thought of One’s Own‘ By Rashmi Raj

A woman is the embodiment of beauty. Of kindness, and nurture. Of mercy. And verve. She is the helping hand. The saving grace. She is the embodiment of courage. Of knowledge. Of strength. She is the rescuer of people. The ridder of evils. The granter of boons. She is celebrated as Shakti. She is revered as Kali. She is hailed as Durga.    

Why? Allow me to tell you a story. 

Once upon a time, there was an arrogant demon named Mahishasura. Drunk on his power and using his devotion to Lord Brahma as leverage, he got himself a boon that he could never be killed by any man or God. Such was his arrogance, that he even went on to ask a boon that he would meet his end only at the hands of a woman. Because he thought that he was stronger than any woman in the world and thus, was invincible. 

And he was. Until the Gods came together and decided to create a divine form that would rid everyone of Mahishasura’s tyranny. 

Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma came together, and created a divine feminine form– shakti – and endowed her with all their powers and all their weapons. 

Riding on a tiger, with Shiva’s trident, and Vishnu’s chakra among her weapons, Maa Shakti challenged Mahishasura and raged a fierce battle against him. The asura was strong and cunning, but the Goddess was relentless. The battle lasted for nine nights, and at the end of it, the Goddess killed him with her trident, ridding the world of his oppression. 

The Goddess came to be worshipped as Maa Durga, or Mahishasura Mardini. And in her honour, the festival of Navratri came to be celebrated every year for nine nights, signifying the intense battle she raged for nine nights with valour against the powerful demon. 

Navratri is the celebration of her bravery. Of reverence to the divine female form. It is the victory of good over evil. The time to acknowledge, and bow in respect, to the Goddess. The Goddess is considered to be an amalgamation of Devi Parvati, Mata Lakshmi and Maa Saraswati. 

The Goddess is worshipped for nine days in nine different forms, honouring the different facets of her divine grace each day. With the first three days of the Navratri festival being devoted to Devi Parvati, the next three, to Mata Lakshmi, and the last three to Maa Saraswati. She is worshipped as Devi Shailaputri on day one, Devi Brahmacharini on the second, Devi Chandraghanta on the third, Devi Kushmanda, the fourth, Devi Skandamata, the fifth, Devi Katyayani, the sixth, Devi Kaalaratri, the seventh, Devi Mahagauri, the eighth, and Devi Siddhidatri on the ninth day. 

Some people fast for nine days, as a mark of respect for the Goddess who fought to save us, and others feast, in celebration of her victory. In some parts, rituals and pujas are arranged for the occasion, and in other parts, Garba and dandiya dances are organized in the spirit of festivity. And everywhere, the festival brings warmth, colour, and joy.    

Over the years, however, commercial interests have eclipsed the festival – as they have almost all spheres of our lives – and the spiritual connect of the festival seems to be getting lost. What began as a mark of respect, and an occasion for family and friends to come together in celebration, has today, morphed into something else. Dance and gaiety taking over the essence and piety of the festival. 

Today, in many places, Navratri is celebrated in large pandals, with caterers hired, and DJ’s playing remixed music blaring from loudspeakers. With people happy to dress up and show off their dance moves on social media.

It is no secret that fashion wear and accessories companies make a killing during this season. And here’s an example of why this is so. There is a belief among many people that each form of the Devi is associated with a specific colour, and that wearing that colour on that day is considered good luck and can please the Goddess. However, I was surprised to read in a 2016 article, that this was, in fact, a marketing ploy by a newspaper to drum up its sales! 

Nevertheless, it seems to have helped the fashion industry reel in their profits, and pump up their sales, while at the same time having made it to the collective conscience of our society as a religious requirement! 

Movies, marketing companies, event management companies, catering companies – you name it, they are making their moolah in the name of the Goddess. Turning the festival, over time, into a materialistic celebration rather than a spiritual one. 

Creating a fear among some, that while catering to the glee and glamour of large multinational companies, are we forgetting the real reason – traditional and spiritual – for the celebration itself? 

Well, it doesn’t have to be like that. 

So long as we are respectful of the festival and its traditions, we can enjoy and relish it too!

So long as we keep the spirit of the festival alive in our hearts, and our homes, it is fine to give in to the pomp and the finery. 

So long as we also tell our children the story of Mahishasura and the courage and bravery of the divine Goddess who defeated him, it is okay to dance and celebrate in fervour. 

So long as we offer homemade bhog to the Devi, It is okay to eat catered food and enjoy the hors d’oeuvres. 

So long as we keep the spiritual connect of the festival intact in our hearts, I believe we still have hope. Of keeping the essence of the festival alive. Keeping the essence of womanhood alive. The spirit of femininity is alive.  

Wishing you all, a very happy Navratri.

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